Microelectromechanical system (MEMS) employing wireless transmission for providing sensory signals

Abstract

A medical system employs wireless transmission and provides sensory signals to a user of a prosthetic or other medical device. A series of pressure, force or strain sensors are placed upon various areas of the prosthetic device. The sensors are strategically placed according to anticipated functions of the prosthetic device and the sensors may be placed in clusters, where each cluster may include more than one sensor. The prosthetic device is normally operated by a biometric controller. The biometric controller is controlled by the handicapped user via muscles or other devices to enable the prosthetic device to perform various desired functions. During performing of such functions, the sensors will respond and produce outputs according to applied pressure or strain. These voltage outputs are transmitted by a transmitter to a remote receiver which is located on the body or person of the handicapped user. The receiver demodulates the transmitted signal to provide output signals proportional to the sensor signals as transmitted. These output signals are then directed to electrodes, probes or terminal pads imbedded in the body of the handicapped user by a physician or suitable technician. The imbedded probes or electrodes receive the sensor signals from the receiver and operate to stimulate the nerves so that a user can receive signals indicative of the force applied to given areas of the prosthetic device. In this manner the user can better control prosthetic device operation.

1 . A medical system for providing sensory signals to a user indicative of the force or pressure applied by a medical device controlled by the user, comprising:
 a plurality of force responsive sensors positioned on said device in predetermined locations, each of said devices operative to provide an output signal proportional to said applied force,   scanning means scanning each of said sensors to provide a plurality of time sequential output signals each indicative of an associated sensor output, and   a transmitter means coupled to said scanning means and operative to transmit a signal to a remote location indicative of said output signal of at least a first selected plurality of said force responsive sensors.   
   
   
       2 . The system according to  claim 1  further including:
 a receiver means located on said user's body having an antenna for receiving said transmitted signal,   processing means coupled to said antenna for providing at an output a plurality of signals, each indicative of the signal value of each sensor in said selected plurality, and   means coupled to said predetermined nerve areas of said user to stimulate said nerve area according to at least one of said sensor signal values.   
   
   
       3 . The medical system according to  claim 1  wherein said medical device is a prosthesis. 
   
   
       4 . The medical system according to  claim 3  wherein said prosthesis is a hand prosthesis having at least two finger appendages each having a top section, a center section and a bottom section. 
   
   
       5 . The medical system according to  claim 4 , further comprising:
 a first cluster of force responsive sensors positioned on the top section of said first appendages,   a second cluster of force responsive sensors positioned on the middle section of said first appendage,   a third cluster of force responsive sensors positioned on the bottom section of said first appendage,   said second appendage having third, fourth and fifth force responsive sensor clusters respectively positioned on said appendage near the top, center and bottom.   
   
   
       6 . The medical system according to  claim 5 , further including a biometric controller operative by said user to cause said prosthesis to exhibit a desired move and for providing biometric output signals indicative of said move,
 a processor coupled to said biometric controller for receiving said output signals to provide a scanning control output indicative of which clusters of said force responsive sensors are to be scanned, said scanning control output coupled to said scanning means to control the scanning sequence accordingly.   
   
   
       7 . The medical systems according to  claim 5  wherein each cluster may have between 1 and 20 force responsive sensors. 
   
   
       8 . The medical system for transmitting force signals imposed by a prosthetic device during movement and use of said device by a user, said transmitted signals received by a receiver located on the body of said user, comprising:
 a prosthetic device having at least one surface for imparting a force to an object during use,   a plurality of force responsive sensors located in predetermined positions on said surface, each sensor capable of providing an output proportional to a force applied thereto,   scanning means coupled to said sensors and operative to scan each sensor during a predetermined period to provide output signals each indicative of each scanned sensor output,   modulation means responsive to said output signals to provide a composite signal for transmission to a remote location,   receiving means located on the body of said user and operative to receive said corporate signal to provide output signals indicative of each scanned sensor output, and   means responsive to said output signals to apply each output signal to a preselected nerve area of said user to enable said user to receive sensory feedback pertinent to the use of said prosthetic device.   
   
   
       9 . The medical system according to  claim 8  wherein said prosthesis is a hand prosthesis having at least two finger-like appendages, with each appendage having a first sensor cluster at the top of said appendages, a second sensor cluster at the center of each appendage and a third sensor cluster at the bottom of said appendage. 
   
   
       10 . The medical system according to  claim 9  wherein said scanning means includes means for selecting clusters of sensors to be scanned on said first and second appendages according to a predetermined use of said prosthetic device. 
   
   
       11 . The medical system according to  claim 8  wherein said force responsive sensors are piezoresistive sensors. 
   
   
       12 . A method of providing sensory feedback signals to a user of a prosthetic device comprising the steps of:
 placing force responsive sensors on moveable areas of said prosthetic device, each of said sensors capable of providing an output according to a force applied by said prosthetic device to an apparatus,   arranging and modulating said outputs in a serial format with each sensor having an allocated times slot, to provide a transmission signal,   transmitting said signal   receiving said transmitted signal   arranging and demodulating said transmitted signal to provide a plurality of individual sensor output signals and   applying said individual sensor output signals to individual associated nerve areas of said user to stimulate said nerve areas according to the operation of said prosthetic device.   
   
   
       13 . The method according to  claim 12  wherein the step of arranging and modulating includes the step of scanning said force responsive sensors in sequence and applying said scanned sequence to a modulator for transmission. 
   
   
       14 . The method according to  claim 12  further including the step of:
 selecting only certain said sensors to be scanned according to a desired movement of said prosthetic device.   
   
   
       15 . A medical system employing wireless transmission for providing selective feedback to a handicapped person using a medical aid, comprising:
 at least one sensor coupled to said medical aid and operative to provide an output signal according to a condition of said medical aid,   a transmitter responsive to said output signal to transmit said signal to a remote location,   a receiver located at said remote location and operative to receive said transmitted signal to provide sensor output signal,   means responsive to apply said signal to a selected nerve area of said handicapped person to stimulate said nerve area according to the magnitude of said output signal.   
   
   
       16 . The medical system according to  claim 15  wherein said medical aid is a prosthesis having moveable parts which parts are manipulated by said handicapped person using a biometric controller, further comprising:
 a plurality of force sensors positioned on said moveable parts in predetermined areas and arranged in a cluster,   selection means responsive to signals from said biometric controller to select a least one cluster of force sensors to be addressed,   scanning means responsive to said selected cluster to scan said sensors in said selected cluster to provide a plurality of output signals, one signal output for each sensor in said cluster,   modulation means for modulating said sensor signals to provide an output signal for transmission to a remote location.   
   
   
       17 . The medical system according to  claim 16  wherein said selection means is operative to provide a select cluster signal to inform said receiver as to which clusters were scanned and means for including said select cluster signal in said output signal to be transmitted. 
   
   
       18 . The medical system according to  claim 17  wherein said force sensors are piezoresistive semiconductor devices. 
   
   
       19 . The medical system according to  claim 18  wherein said transmitted signal is in the UHF band. 
   
   
       20 . The medical system according to  claim 16  further including a microprocessor coupled to said biometric controller and said scanning means and operative to control said scanning means according to a cluster selected by said microprocessor as determined by said biometric controller signals.